Relationship between working-memory network function and substance use: a 3-year longitudinal fMRI study in heavy cannabis users and controls.

Posted on March 5, 2014 by David

“The aim of this 3-year longitudinal neuro-imaging study was to investigate the relationship between substance use (e.g. alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, illegal psychotropic drugs) and working-memory network function over time in heavy cannabis users and controls.

Within the group of cannabis users, cannabis-related problems remained stable, whereas alcohol-related problems, nicotine dependence and illegal psychotropic substance use increased over time. At both measurements, behavioral performance and network functionality during the n-back task did not differ between heavy cannabis users and controls. Although n-back accuracy improved, working-memory network function remained stable over time.

Within the group of cannabis users, working-memory network functionality was not associated with substance use.

These results suggest that sustained moderate to heavy levels of cannabis, nicotine, alcohol and illegal psychotropic substance use do not change working-memory network functionality.

Moreover, baseline network functionality did not predict cannabis use and related problems three years later, warranting longitudinal studies in more chronic or dependent cannabis users.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24589297

Changes in Cerebral CB1 Receptor Availability after Acute and Chronic Alcohol Abuse and Monitored Abstinence.

Posted on February 21, 2014 by David

“Involvement of the type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) in the effects of alcohol on the brain is supported by animal experiments…

In conclusion, whereas the acute alcohol effect is an increase in CB1R availability, chronic heavy drinking leads to reduced CB1R availability that is not reversible after 1 month of abstinence. Longer follow-up is required to differentiate whether this is a compensatory effect of repeated endocannabinoid overstimulation or an enduring trait-like feature.

An enhanced CB1R signaling may offer a new therapeutic direction for treatment of the negative affective state produced by alcohol withdrawal and abstinence, which is critical for the maintenance of alcohol addiction.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24553924

Basolateral amygdala CB1 cannabinoid receptors mediate nicotine-induced place preference.

Posted on January 29, 2014 by David

“In the present study, the effects of bilateral microinjections of cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonist and antagonist into the basolateral amygdala (intra-BLA) on nicotine-induced place preference were examined in rats.

Taken together, these findings support the possible role of endogenous cannabinoid system of the BLA in the acquisition and the expression of nicotine-induced place preference. Furthermore, it seems that there is a functional interaction between the BLA cannabinoid receptors and nicotine in producing the rewarding effects.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24468643

Use of Dronabinol for Cannabis Dependence: Two Case Reports and Review

Posted on January 26, 2014 by David

“Based on recent laboratory studies, dronabinol (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) has been shown to reduce cannabis withdrawal symptoms and the subjective effects of marijuana.

Given that agonist agents have been found to be effective for opiate and nicotine dependence, the clinical utility of dronabinol for cannabis dependence is a reasonable approach…

It is clear from the two cases that both patients found the induction onto dronabinol helpful.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2733248/

Dronabinol for the Treatment of Cannabis Dependence: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Posted on January 26, 2014 by David

“… there are no effective medications for cannabis dependence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of dronabinol, a synthetic form of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, a naturally occurring pharmacologically active component of marijuana, in treating cannabis dependence.

This is the first trial using an agonist substitution strategy for treatment of cannabis dependence. Dronabinol showed promise, it was well-tolerated, and improved treatment retention and withdrawal symptoms…

In conclusion, agonist substitution pharmacotherapy with dronabinol, a synthetic form of THC, showed promise for treatment of cannabis dependence, reducing withdrawal symptoms and improving retention in treatment…

The trial showed that among adult cannabis-dependent patients, dronabinol was well accepted, with good adherence and few adverse events.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3154755/

Cannabinoid type-1 receptor ligands, alone or in combination with cocaine, affect vigilance-related behaviors of marmoset monkeys.

Posted on January 22, 2014 by David

“Endocannabinoids (eCB) have been functionally linked to cocaine’s rewarding effects.

…changes in CB1r function – alone and in combination with cocaine – affected stereotyped vigilance-related behaviors… further implicating the eCB system in the neurobiological mechanisms of cocaine addiction.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24445195

Nabiximols as an Agonist Replacement Therapy During Cannabis Withdrawal: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Posted on January 17, 2014 by David

“The cannabis extract nabiximols (Sativex), developed as a multiple sclerosis treatment, offers a potential agonist medication for cannabis withdrawal…

Nabiximols treatment significantly reduced the overall severity of cannabis withdrawal…

The data support further evaluation of nabiximols for management of cannabis dependence and withdrawal in treatment-seeking populations.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24430917

Pharmacological blockade of either cannabinoid CB1 or CB2 receptors prevents both cocaine-induced conditioned locomotion and cocaine-induced reduction of cell proliferation in the hippocampus of adult male rat.

Posted on January 11, 2014 by David

“Addiction to major drugs of abuse, such as cocaine, has recently been linked to alterations in adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus. The endogenous cannabinoid system modulates this proliferative response as demonstrated by the finding that pharmacological activation/blockade of cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors not only modulates neurogenesis but also modulates cell death in the brain.

In the present study, we evaluated whether the endogenous cannabinoid system affects cocaine-induced alterations in cell proliferation…

These results indicate that the changes in neurogenic, apoptotic and gliotic processes that were produced by repeated cocaine administration were normalized by pharmacological blockade of CB1 and CB2. The restorative effects of cannabinoid receptor blockade on hippocampal cell proliferation were associated with the prevention of the induction of conditioned locomotion but not with the prevention of cocaine-induced sensitization.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24409127

Acute alcohol use temporally increases the odds of male perpetrated dating violence: A 90-day diary analysis.

Posted on January 10, 2014 by David

“…the present study examined the temporal relationship between acute alcohol use, marijuana use, and male perpetrated physical, psychological, and sexual dating violence…

On any alcohol use days, heavy alcohol use days (5 or more standard drinks), and as the number of drinks increased on a given day, the odds of physical and sexual aggression perpetration increased. The odds of psychological aggression increased on heavy alcohol use days only.

Marijuana use days did not increase the odds of any type of aggression.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings contribute to a growing body of research on the temporal relation between acute alcohol use and IPV perpetration among college men. Combined with previous research, our findings suggest that dating violence intervention and prevention programs should target reductions in alcohol use.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24199932

Cannabidiol protects liver from binge alcohol-induced steatosis by mechanisms including inhibition of oxidative stress and increasing of autophagy.

Posted on January 9, 2014 by David

“Acute alcohol drinking induces steatosis, and effective prevention of steatosis can protect liver from progressive damage caused by alcohol… We evaluated whether cannabidiol, which has been reported to function as an antioxidant, can protect the liver from alcohol-generated oxidative stress induced steatosis.

Cannabidiol can prevent acute alcohol induced liver steatosis in mice… Importantly, cannabidiol can prevent the decrease of autophagy induced by alcohol.

In conclusion, these results show that cannabidiol protects mouse liver from acute alcohol induced steatosis through multiple mechanisms including attenuation of alcohol-mediated oxidative stress, prevention of JNK MAPK activation, and increasing autophagy.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24398069

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Category Archives: Addiction